San Bernardino County Fire Department
Hazardous Materials Division
620 South "E" Street
San Bernardino, CA 92415-0153
Phone: 909.386.8401
Fax: 909.386.8460
On February 9, 2006 small businesses and households became subject to the California
Universal Waste Rule. What this means for most is that certain “universally” generated
hazardous wastes can no longer be disposed of into the municipal solid waste landfills
in California. Disposal of a Universal Waste is now considered disposal of a hazardous
waste, and improper management carries all of the consequences that the unlawful
disposal of a hazardous waste carries in the State of California. The most common
universal wastes are non-automotive batteries, fluorescent tubes, cathode ray tube
(CRT) materials, consumer electronic devices, non-empty aerosol cans, and mercury
switches.
As the local regulatory agency for San Bernardino County (except for the incorporated
City of Victorville), the San Bernardino County CUPA is working toward the goal
of educating our currently permitted businesses that are now responsible for handling
their Universal Wastes, as well as reach out to those businesses that are now required
to follow the handling standards set forth through the California Universal Waste
Rule. Note that while all generators and handlers of Universal Wastes must abide
by the applicable management requirements, additional permits as a Universal Waste
Handler in San Bernardino County will be required only for those that are not Conditionally
Exempt Small Quantity Generators.
In July 2005, The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors approved the introduction
of a permit fee for Universal Waste Handlers under the San Bernardino County CUPA
jurisdiction. Again, Universal Waste permits do NOT apply to Conditionally Exempt
Small Quantity Universal Waste Generators. To determine what type of Universal Waste
generator or handler a facility is and what the basic requirements are, a good place
to start is the
Summary of Universal Waste Handling Requirements.
Resources:
DTSC Universal Waste Fact Sheet
DTSC Universal Waste Page
DTSC Electronic Hazardous Waste
San Bernardino County CUPA Forms and Guidelines
Sunset of
exemptions for households and small generators (pdf)
For Homeowners:
Homeowners
Tips on handling Universal Waste (pdf)
The San Bernardino County Fire Household Hazardous Waste Program